New high for Polish poultry meat output

Chicken, which
now makes up around 70% of Polish poultry meat production, is up from 68% in
2005, while turkey meat production fell by 4% to
28%.

Polish exports
in January-October of 2006 reached 153 817t, up 7.34 year-on-year, but up a
massive 75% on 2004 levels. Overall poultry meat production reached a record
high of 1.08mt in 2006, up 6% year-on-year, according to official information
quoted by German market analyst, ZMP. Per capita consumption also reached a new record-high of
24.0kg and is likely to rise further in the coming year, given that consumers
see chicken meat as good value.

Polish
poultry meat exports also reached record levels in 2006 - total exports reached
205,000t, around one-third of which was destined for
Germany . In 2005, 40% of all Polish
poultry meat exports went to
Germany . The
UK and
Belarus were also important export
markets for Polish poultry producers.

Polish poultry producers were struggling at the start of 2006. Avian
flu fears had unnerved consumers, leading to stagnating sales and prices saw a
downward spiral. However, the market eased from June, and according to data from
the Polish agriculture ministry, the price of broilers in August reached
€0.69/kg, up 10% on the start of 2006 and up 14% on March levels.